Polyamory is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and free consent of everyone involved.
Polyamory, often abbreviated to poly, is sometimes described as consensual, ethical, or responsible non-monogamy. The word is occasionally used more broadly to refer to any sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic.
"Polyamorous" can refer to the nature of a relationship at a given time, or be used as a description of a philosophy or relationship orientation (much like gender orientation), rather than a person's actual relationship status at a given moment. It is an umbrella term that covers various forms of multiple relationships; polyamorous arrangements are varied, reflecting the choices and philosophies of the individuals involved.
Polyamory differs from polygamy, which refers to multiple marriage (although polygamy is often used only to refer to polygyny: one man with several wives.) Traditional polygamy is usually patriarchical and often claims a religious justification. Polyamory, on the other hand, is a more modern outlook grounded in such concepts as gender equality, self-determination, free choice for all involved, mutual trust, equal respect among partners, the intrinsic value of love, the ideal of compersion, and other mostly secular ideals.
Values within polyamory
Relationships classed as polyamorous involve an emotional bond and often a longer term intent, though these distinctions are a topic open to debate and interpretation. Many people in the swinging and polyamory communities see both practices as part of a broader spectrum of open intimacy and sexuality.
Also note that the values discussed here are ideals. As with any ideals, their adherents sometimes fall short of the mark — but major breaches of a polyamorous relationship's ideals are taken as seriously as such breaches would be in any other relationship. Common values cited within such relationships include:
Polyamory is the practice, desire, or acceptance of having more than one loving, intimate relationship at a time with the full knowledge and free consent of everyone involved.
Polyamory, often abbreviated to poly, is sometimes described as consensual, ethical, or responsible non-monogamy. The word is occasionally used more broadly to refer to any sexual or romantic relationships that are not sexually exclusive, though there is disagreement on how broadly it applies; an emphasis on ethics, honesty, and transparency all around is widely regarded as the crucial defining characteristic.
"Polyamorous" can refer to the nature of a relationship at a given time, or be used as a description of a philosophy or relationship orientation (much like gender orientation), rather than a person's actual relationship status at a given moment. It is an umbrella term that covers various forms of multiple relationships; polyamorous arrangements are varied, reflecting the choices and philosophies of the individuals involved.
Polyamory differs from polygamy, which refers to multiple marriage (although polygamy is often used only to refer to polygyny: one man with several wives.) Traditional polygamy is usually patriarchical and often claims a religious justification. Polyamory, on the other hand, is a more modern outlook grounded in such concepts as gender equality, self-determination, free choice for all involved, mutual trust, equal respect among partners, the intrinsic value of love, the ideal of compersion, and other mostly secular ideals.
Values within polyamory
Relationships classed as polyamorous involve an emotional bond and often a longer term intent, though these distinctions are a topic open to debate and interpretation. Many people in the swinging and polyamory communities see both practices as part of a broader spectrum of open intimacy and sexuality.
Also note that the values discussed here are ideals. As with any ideals, their adherents sometimes fall short of the mark — but major breaches of a polyamorous relationship's ideals are taken as seriously as such breaches would be in any other relationship. Common values cited within such relationships include:
No group posts at this time.
I have hard time with this one... I have good friends that have been together for 19 years with two small children aged 4 and 6. Then last year, one of them, after being "caught" having an affair, announced she was "coming out" as poly and wasn't capable of non-monogamy. And so any time I try to engage in conversation wth her about it, she says I can't question her choice (cause I admit to seeing it as a choice or even as a way of leaving intimacy) because it is who she is. And so now she and her ex-partner are in counselling because she wants her family back (oh, this is a mom & mom family - and the biological mom is the one who left the relationship and now identifies as poly) but won't come back if she is required to monogamous.
i don't think it's possible to announce after 19 years and two kids that you want to date and expect your marriage to survive.
i've known many people who have at one time in their life defined themselves as non-monogamous but it was always at the beginning of a relationship and consensual and known with all partners and even then, it didn't last. and it definitely didn't work when there were kids involved.
i just don't see this as a healthy way of engaging with a partner because it seems to deny intimacy rather than encourage it... it is, as the above person said, poly-layered...
Isn't it strange that there are no others that join or reply to your group?
Could you think of "polyamory" in its literal translation? Doesn't "poly" mean "many"? What a world it would be if "many" loved, or where "amory" with "all"? Even if it only meant "Good Will" and tolerance to all you meet? Smile, be friendly, be happy !
Peace and Love to you.
Kernal
Let's not mistake recreation for orientation! Adolescent or the ever-popular extended adolescence for true love's mutual conscresence, however 'poly' layered.
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Comments
gaiagrrl
Hmmm
Posted on: 02/22/2010 20:31
I have hard time with this one... I have good friends that have been together for 19 years with two small children aged 4 and 6. Then last year, one of them, after being "caught" having an affair, announced she was "coming out" as poly and wasn't capable of non-monogamy. And so any time I try to engage in conversation wth her about it, she says I can't question her choice (cause I admit to seeing it as a choice or even as a way of leaving intimacy) because it is who she is. And so now she and her ex-partner are in counselling because she wants her family back (oh, this is a mom & mom family - and the biological mom is the one who left the relationship and now identifies as poly) but won't come back if she is required to monogamous.
i don't think it's possible to announce after 19 years and two kids that you want to date and expect your marriage to survive.
i've known many people who have at one time in their life defined themselves as non-monogamous but it was always at the beginning of a relationship and consensual and known with all partners and even then, it didn't last. and it definitely didn't work when there were kids involved.
i just don't see this as a healthy way of engaging with a partner because it seems to deny intimacy rather than encourage it... it is, as the above person said, poly-layered...
Kernal
Polyamory expanded
Posted on: 12/30/2009 20:04
Isn't it strange that there are no others that join or reply to your group?
Could you think of "polyamory" in its literal translation? Doesn't "poly" mean "many"? What a world it would be if "many" loved, or where "amory" with "all"? Even if it only meant "Good Will" and tolerance to all you meet? Smile, be friendly, be happy !
Peace and Love to you.
Kernal
Melchizedek
polyphily
Posted on: 09/22/2009 11:49
Let's not mistake recreation for orientation! Adolescent or the ever-popular extended adolescence for true love's mutual conscresence, however 'poly' layered.